United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator calls for urgent action to address power crisis affecting 1.7 million Palestinians in Gaza

The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator Mr. James W. Rawley expressed his concern at the shut-down of the Gaza Power Plant (GPP) earlier today due to a critical fuel shortage.

“In recent years, Gaza has been running on less than half of the electricity that it needs. The shut-down of the power plant today and related fuel shortages will impact all essential services, including hospitals, clinics, sewage and water pumping stations. It will also mean that Gaza’s 1.7 people will experience power outages of up to 16 hours per day.” warned Mr. Rawley.

Electricity is supplied through Israeli and Egyptian feeder lines but the GPP provides approximately 30 per cent of Gaza’s total energy supply. “For the benefit of Gaza’s civilian population it is essential that a way be found to allow the power plant to resume its operations and that the broader chronic energy crisis be addressed,” Rawley concluded.